More than 40 staff who work for St Anne’s, a charity, which provides homecare and residential care, are facing pay cuts of £5,000 to £8,000 a year.
On October 5, the Charity intends to sack the UNISON members – who work in Bradford, Gateshead and Durham – and re-employ them on new contracts.
That will slash their wages and terms and conditions with staff losing eight days a year holiday entitlement.
UNISON Regional Organiser Dean Harper said: “This is supposed to be a charity and it is appalling that they are treating these vital, dedicated staff in such a shameful way.
“Our members will be plunged into poverty by the charity.
“One of them has already had to sell her house because she cannot afford to pay the mortgage and that will be the case for others.
“The pay cuts are so huge that people are anxious and angry.
“Some will be forced to leave and try to find jobs that will pay them enough to survive.
“All of this is bound to affect the service to the vulnerable people who use the service. Meanwhile the management have had no pay cuts and some have had big rises.
“It is a disgrace.”
The staff affected were originally transferred under TUPE regulations.
UNISON is taking legal advice to see if those regulations have been breached.
And each member has registered a grievance against the charity which could lead to the Employment Tribunal.
Dean says the cuts at St Anne’s are not the result of councils cutting their funding as had been claimed.
He said: “I have written to Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe and she is offering us her support in defending these vital workers from this appalling attack on their livelihoods.”